GULF SHORES, Ala. — After a few weeks of recovery time from the 38th annual National Shrimp Festival, organizers from the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce took a look back this week to assess the event and began making plans for next year’s festival.

Overall, they said this year’s installment was one of the smoothest running festivals in recent memory. 

“We’ve had very few complaints come in since the festival from vendors or visitors,” Chamber Special Events director Don McPherson said. “Fewer than in year’s past. I take that as a good sign.” 

Festival Chairman Ron Kutter said the only thing he would change about the festival was the weather.

“I know it sounds crazy to complain about too much sunshine, but the combination of sun and heat on Thursday and Friday was too much for many people,” he said. “We had paramedics respond to several calls from people having health issues from the heat. However, the heat didn’t stop everyone from having a good time.” 

Both Kutter and McPherson said the set-up time for exhibitors to get their wares ready before the festival and the breakdown time after the festival for exhibitors to get their wares out was exceptional.  

One surprise for the organizers was an increase in revenue from the Chamber’s retail sales booths this year. The booths sell official Shrimp Festival clothing and souvenirs.

“We had a good retail year,” McPherson said. “It was up a couple of percentage points from last year and that was a surprise to us. With the uncertainty in the national economy, we actually thought sales would be slower than last year.”

McPherson said estimates of the number of people that came to the festival were down slightly from last year, but the people that attended spent money.

“The vast majority of exhibitors I’ve spoken with said they were successful at the festival,” he said. “One exhibitor said her business was up more than 25 percent from last year.”

While Kutter and McPherson could be resting on their laurels from this year’s festival, they are already hard at work on next year’s festival.

“It’s taken me a couple of weeks to get caught up at work,” Kutter, the owner of a local landscaping business, said. “But we’re already planning things for next year.” 

Always thinking ahead to bring new facets to the festival, McPherson said talks are underway to lure an aerial acrobatic team to the festival for a show.

“Talks are in a very preliminary stage right now,” he said. “But an air show is something we think we can do. Ideally the show would take place over the beach, so festival goers would already be there.” 

Plans are also in the works to promote the annual Chef’s Challenge even more.

“We’re thinking of moving it to August,” McPherson said. “That way we can take advantage of the late summer crowds that are still here and promote the event to them.” 

Both Kutter and McPherson said the primary cog in the wheel that makes the festival possible is the volunteers.

“I can’t say enough about our volunteers,” Kutter said. “Some of them take their vacation days and spend them working 40 hours or more over the four days of the festival. And they do it all for a couple of shirts. That’s the community spirit and dedication our volunteers give us. I couldn’t be prouder of them.” 

Kutter said he is already on the lookout for volunteers in 2010.

“Our volunteer staff members have plans going on all year,” he said. “We have bands to book, T-shirts and souvenirs to order and a host of other things that have to get done in order for the festival to take place. Whatever your talents are, we have something for you.” 

McPherson said anyone interested in volunteering for next year’s festival can call Ann Motes at the Chamber office at 968-7220, or e-mail her at events@alagulfcoastchamber.com. 

“To put on the festival it takes a lot of hard work by a great number of people,” Kutter said. “But it’s also a lot of fun. I can’t wait for next year.”